Chinese car maker BYD has beaten rivals to the draw by becoming the first brand to launch a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute on the Australian market.

The Ford Ranger and GWM Cannon Alpha Hi4T were among the rival dual-cab utes gunning to be first to market with the petrol-electric technology, but fleet-footed BYD has got the drop on both with its all-new Shark 6 ute.

It appears there’s plenty of demand for the fuel-saving low-emission technology, too, with BYD distributor EVDirect claiming to have taken more than 2,000 orders for the new ute within the first 24 hours.

It’s not known at this stage what percentage of these are government and fleet buyers, but with the Commonwealth Government’s New Vehicle Emissions Standard (NVES) due to come into effect on 1 January 2025, BYD’s timing appears spot-on.

The NVES is designed to incentivise car companies to supply new cars that use less fuel per kilometre, with each manufacturer having a set average CO2 target for the vehicles they produce, which they must meet or beat.

Dual-cab 4x4 utes are Australia’s biggest selling new vehicle category but until now have been poorly served with regards to low emissions technology, such as battery electric, PHEV and hybrids.
However, with the implementation of the NVES looming, most car makers are scrambling to increase the number of low- and zero-emission models on their fleet.

Hence why BYD’s early introduction of the Shark 6 PHEV gives it a significant first-mover advantage with government and fleet buyers who are likely to be among the first to seek out new fuel-efficient technologies.

Despite being a relative newcomer to the Australian market, BYD is a well-established and a major player in its Chinese home market and claims to be the world’s largest new energy vehicle brand.

Locally, BYD’s sales have been on a tear so far this year, with September sales data showing a total of 15,181 vehicle sales year to date, an increase of 74% on the same period in 2023.

Priced at $57,900 (plus on-road costs) the BYD Shark 6 joins a rapidly expanding local model lineup which includes the Atto 3, Dolphin, SeaLion 6 and Seal.

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Featuring chunky 4x4 styling marked by a bluff grille, wheel-arch flares and angular styling, the Shark 6 promises up to 800km of combined-cycle driving courtesy of its twin electric motors, 29.58kWh LFP battery, and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine.

The petrol engine and one electric motor drive the front wheels, with the other electric motor driving the rear wheels.

The petrol motor is primarily designed as a range extender to recharge the battery pack, so the system defers to electric drive as much as possible.

BYD says the Shark 6’s pure electric range when setting off with a fully charged battery is 80km, with the combined petrol-electric drivetrain capable of covering up to 800km.

Fuel consumption is an impressive 2.0L/100km when the battery is charged but slip below 25% and the engine will use a more conventional 7.9L/100km.

The new model is available exclusively as a dual-cab 4x4 and in a single high-spec Premium trim with standard features including 18-inch alloys, side steps, roof rails, LED headlights, and a spray-in bed liner.

For tradies and camping enthusiasts the new ute also offers vehicle-to-load capability and three power plugs to enable powering of tools and other equipment.

The luxurious interior is a far cry from the hose-out workhorses that once dominated this segment, with features like a configurable digital instrument cluster, head-up display, leather steering wheel, 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system, wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and leather-like seat trim.

As with the Atto 3, the Shark 6’s party trick is its rotating infotainment touchscreen, which can be changed to a portrait or landscape orientation at the touch of a switch.

Underneath, the Shark 6 boasts a rugged ladder-frame chassis with an unusual independent rear suspension where most rivals use a live (beam) axle with leaf or coil springs.

There’s no traditional low-range gearing either, with the BYD relying on its dual electric motors and sophisticated electronic traction control systems to do their thing when the going gets rough.

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At 2,710kg, the BYD ute is heavier than many ICE-powered rivals and its maximum payload is just 790kg, some 210kg below the category standard, while its braked towing capacity of 1,500kg is also shy of the 2,500kg class standard.

However, the Shark 6 is longer (+200mm), wider (+209mm) and taller (+25mm), than the category-leading Ford Ranger, which should translate to superior rear seat and/or tray space.

With the Shark 6 PHEV now entering the fray in Australia’s biggest selling new vehicle category, its combination of low emissions, keen pricing and generous equipment levels could prove irresistible to public sector, fleet and private fleet buyers.